Dead-key mechanism for type-writing machines.



T. L. KNAPP. DEAD KEY MECHANISM FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.2, 1910. 1,063,977. Patented June 10,1913.

3 SHEETS-SBEET 1.

(W556i 4 il fiuelzior Them/Ll; flag/L K1 0 4%; IQMM.

T. L. KNAPP.

DEAD KEY MECHANISM FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED AUGMZ, 1910.

"Patented June 10, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

i b F am W (Mm T. L. KNAPP. DEAD KEY MECHANISM FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.2, 1910.

1,063,977, Patented June 10,1913.

3 BHEETB-SHEET 3.

g @M 48AM UNITED srarns PATENT onricn.

THERON L. KN'APP, OF WOODSTOCK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE OLIVER TYPEWRITER COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

DEAD-KEY MECHANISIM'FOR TYPE-\VRITING MACHINES.

, Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 10, 1913.

Application filed August 2, 1910. Serial No. 575,054.

To a awn/a v! may concern.

lie it known that I, THERON TJ. KNAPP, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of \Yoodstock. in the county of McHenry l This invention relates to improvements in typeivriting machines 'irovided with means whereby certain characters may be printed without any teed movement or shifting of the carriage under the action of the letterspacing inechanisnn as is necessary for instance in printing a special character. such as an a cent over or in connection with the regular letters or characters. Special char acters are operated by one or more keylevers which etiect movement of said type without actuation of the letterspacing mechanism of the machine and which are, for this reason, usually termed deadkeys.

The invention relates particularly to an auxiliary universal bar adapted to be operated upon by each of several dead-key levers whereby the construction involving several (lead-keys is simplified.

The invention consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

1n the drawings only such parts of the typewritine' machine are shown as are essential to an understanding of the application of the invention.

The genera: construction of the machine is like that shown in the prior United States Letters Patent to Thomas Oliver, Yumber 599.363, granted March 1st, 1898, and T. 11. Knapp, Number 904.208, granted November 17th, 1908, and the detail of the dead-key mechanism other than those relating to the present invemion are similar to those illustrated in Letters Patent Numf COnStP'tctlOll and comprises a vertically arber 946,229, granted January 11th 1910, to T. L. Knapp.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a plan view of a typewriting machine, looked at from below the base. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the machine taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse detail section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail longitudinalscction taken on the line -l-4 of Fig. 1.

As shown in the said drawings,-1. is a base-plate provided with a lower forward horizontal part and a rear elevated horizontal'part 3.

4, 4 are key-levers pivoted to a rod 5 extendingtransversely of the key-levers and supported in the blocks 5 depending from the part Said key-levers are connected to the type-bars ti, 6.

T is a platen mounted on a paper-carriaee S which is supported upon a shift-frame 9. An upright escape-wheel shaft 1.0 mounted upon the shift-frame 9 is provided at its upper end with a gear-pinion 11 adapted to engage rack-teeth formed on a frame-bar 12, and with an escape wlreel 13 which is engaged by an eseapement-lever H to permit the feed movement of the paper-carriage. The said escapement-lever is operatively connected with an oscillating frame comprising a space-har or universal bar 15, a rock-shaft 16, and a plurality of arms rigidly connecting said rock-shaft with said space-bar. The said space-bar is actuated by the depression of the key-levers to give letter-space movement to the paper-carriage in a well known manner. As illustrated herein, each of said "key-levers except, the dead-key levers presently to be mentioned, is provided with an extension in the formof a bendable lug" 4 (see Fig. 4) secure to one face of said lever and having a par 4 which is adapted to act directly agains the universal bar 15. It is to be understood that this feature of the construction forms no part of the present invention. the same being covered in a. separate application Serial Nun ber 575,055 filed August. 2, 1910, patented April 18, 1911, N0. 98%251. The escapeineut-lever 14 is connected with the space-bar frame by means of a slotted yoke 17. An expansively acting spiral spring 18 is arranged to bear upwardly against the space-bar 15. v

The ribbon-throw device is of familiar ranged rigid supporting arm 20, two par allel oscillating links 21 and 22 supported at the upper end of said'arm 20 and a guideplate 23 which extends toward the platen and is provided with ribbon guide loops 24.

A rock shaft supports the link 22 and is operatively connected with the .escapementlever 14 by means of aconnecting rod 526 which is provided atitslower end with a slot which is engaged by a pivot pin 27 inserted through one end of the Said escape-i ment-lever.

28, (see Fig. 3) designates a contractile coiled spring attached at its upper end to'a' laterally projecting stud 29 and at its lower end to the extended end of the pivot-pin 27.

30, 30 indicate dead key-levers which extend from front to rear of the machine and are pivoted on the rod 5. They are each. connected with a type-bar which carries the special type to be operated by said levers but which type-bar is like others of the series of type-bars, 6, 6.

A horizontal operating lever 31, parallel to the key-levers, is pivoted on the rod 5 and is arranged With its forward nd beneath and in position for contact with the lower end of the connecting rod 26 in such manner that upward movement of the forward end of said lever will lift the said connecting rod and move the ribbon over the platen.

35, see Fig. 3), is a lever extending trans-- versel y of the key-levers and below the same. It is pivotally connected intermediate its ends to a bracket rigidly secured to a cross-bar 35 secured to the base 1. One end of said transverse lever 36 engages a slotted, depending arm 35 formed on the operating lever 31. The opposite end of said transverse lever is arranged to be actuated by either of the dead-key levers 30, 30 in a Way presently to be described.

A contractile coiled spring 37, connected at its upper end to the operating lever 31 and at its lower end to a fixed bracket 19, normally holds the forward end of said operating lever at the downward limit of its t movement. At the forward end of the operating lever is formed anup i rht member which is spaced laterally m m that part. of the end of the lever which is adapted to engage the lower end of the connecting rod 26 to actuate the ribbon-throw device. Said' member 40 is PIOXldGd with upright legs 41 42, which are separated longitudinally by, a space 43.

ment lever 14. Said plate 45 has a laterally i projecting finger 46 which extends into the plane of the upright member 40 and which is adapted to he engaged by the leg 41 or leg 42 of that member when the shift frame is in its forward or backward position, to actuate the escapement lever, but which is i unaffected by the upward movement of said upright--member when the shift-frame is in its normal or midway position, by reason of its location directly above the a see 43. In P all cases, however, the ribbon-t row device Wlll be operated by the forward end of the actuated hya either of the dead-key 50. (see 3 and 4), 1s. an auxiha with huh A forwardly projecting plate i 45 is secured to the newer face of the scapeoperating lever. The construction thus far is substantially that described in the aforementioned patent to Knapp No. 946,229.

I now pass to a descriptl'on of the mechanism by which the operating lever 31 is levers.

universal bar, extending transversely below the dead-key levers in position to be operated upon thereby. Said 'universalbar forms part of a vertically rocking frame 51 which is hinged to a fixed bracket arm 52 dependin from the horizontal part 3 of the base. %ach dead-key lever is provided with an extension in the form of. a lug 53,-substantially like the lugs 4 of the other keylevers. Said extensions 53 are arranged forward of the extensions 4 and the rocking frame of the main universal bar 15 and the r cking frame of the auxiliary universal bar are relatively arranged so that the operation of the cnewill not interfere with that of the other. A pin or lug 54 is rigidly connected to the front face of the bar 51 and engages within a slot 55 in the end of the transverse lever 35.

It is ap tiarent thatthe depression ofcither of the dead-key-levers will, through its associated lug depress the auxiliary universal bar 50, which will in turn depresscne end of the transverse lever thereby rais- -ing the opposite end of said lever 85 to operate the ribbon-throw and to operate the letter-spacing mechanism when the. shiftframe is in its forward or rearward position. As explained above, in the present instance, the lettersspacing.mechanism not actus ated by the said transverse lever when the shift-frame is in its intermediate position.

In order to provide for nice adjustment of the forward end of the operatin lever 31 so. to locate the space 43 accurate y below the laterally extending finger 46 of the plate 45 connected to the escapement lever, in the midway position of the shift-frame, I prefer to make. the lever 31 in two parts, 3l and 31' (see Fig. 2) which are adjustably connected together. The part-31 is provided 31? at its top and bottom margins a 'apted to embrace the top and ems of the parts 33.; A clamp- 31 passes through a slot 31" in the L r: 31 and is threaded into the part 31. Ii emng said screw the part 31f may be adjusted longitudinally.

While I have shown herein but two deadkey levers, it is apparent that the auxiliary universal bar 50 makes it possible to use any number of deadkeys.

While I have shown and described hereip, a construction illustrating one embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that the mechanical details thereof may be moditied and changed in many ways without departing fromthe' spirit of my invention.

1' 7 bar and sex mnimkjey levershaving no ac-l 80 T ribben-finow device, :1 universal fburl-nr- I ranged transversely ofseidmein key-levers and having operative connection with the letter-spacing mechanism and. the 1 ibbon,-'-

1. In a typewriting machine, in'-c0mbn)r.-.--

1 Lion with the type bars, the main-key level-s, Q

' thev letter-spacing mechanism, and the ribpivoted intermediate .its ends end 'having- 40 r ed uponfihe operation thereof to come, yconfiact withmd. operate sand e11x1he:y;um--

tion with the main key-levers, me shift-- .-8 ,ing; an eseap 'en I throw device inchiding e connemggod,'a universal bar ads ted robe; opeijfirjedfilpon Livers,- end hav ng open-1.

by seid main 'ke' "and having operativeiconnection with :the

'key levers warmed upon operation =thereof=- 'rruxiliary universal her, and he lever er-,

-- said anxiliary universaizber; said deed keyf levers act in only on -the euxilmrymnv'ei'sul I Ithe recess n; end member may ad usted tact with; and operate-said universal hair,- erglurelity of fdead-kev 'Ievers, an eumharg" hon-throw device inelndinge connectdng rod, 11 umvezsnl bar located below and ar ranged transversely of sald mom-key lovers lctter-spacmg mechanism and the ribbon-v throw device, said main-key levers adapted upon the oporation'thereof to come into contact with and operate said universal barge plurality of dead-key levers each connected with one of the typ'e barsy-en auxiliary universal bar .locnted'below and arranged trans-- versely of said deadfkey levers, said dead:

to come'into cont-net with ,andjoperete said ranged transversely of said dead-key layers,

operative connection it one ,end with "said eonnectingdod end at the other. end with tion on saidjauiil-ieryuniverse-libel;

2.111 a'ty-pewriting machine, in; oornbi nation with LX161 mninkey-levers, the shift-n frame, the letter-spacingmechanism nnd'the throw device, said znnin key-levers adaptedupon the operetionjhereof'to come into eonumversel her 1 arranged trensversely of 'se'i deed-key levers, sai deedakey levers edegt verse! bar, an operating lever having operetwe conneetwn \Vlth 'smd. anxrh my universal barand adapted to im movement to the ribbon-throw devxce In any "022111 101101 the.

shift-frame and to opvrnre t 'e latter spur-- ing mechanism in cer we positmns only of the shift-frame.

. 3; In a typewrltmg lilfichlfn. 11; rnb1na-- cing mechanism-inaudframe, thel. er

lever, ejndj rgbhonf pwardly, ,onsaid eonnectin rmanged trensverseh 0 sm 7 "levers, pzvo ed rnberm late rts ends and ,me connection withsaid letter-spacing nw-whanism alud said rihbon-throw device, :r plurality of dead'ke-Ie 'ers, an auxiliary mum's-sol, bar-'edepfe .to beopcmfed upon by men of said deed key levers, an operat 'mg iever hevlng. operatwe 'com'xection with supdauxil ieryuniversal bar and adapted to act upwardly-on sand connectmg rod, a memberfupon the rising and fellin end of said operating lever spaced latera y from. the

portion of said operating lever which engages the connecting rod, said member being provided with two lugs and with an up-V wardly opening recess therebetween, and a plate secured to said escelmment lever, provided Withja finger Whic'1,;i11one posit-ion of said shifeir'gm abeve the recessin said membermm ieh,,'inrthe'othor posi-.

tions-hfsuid shift-frame, is adaptedto engsge'fh'e lugs of said member; said opernt-mg leverco npmsmg two parts, and means afiordingeirlgld and adjustable connection between the pau tsof szud operating lever, .pernnttmg longltndinal movement of. one" 'p'aitwith respeot,,to beet-her palt. whereby to its proper jg'osition' relativelyto saidv I finger. Y

,4, In a typewriting' nmchine, in combinamain-key. levers and mving operative connection wlth the Iettenspacing a 'connect'in mechanism and' 'the ribbon-thrb v device," a

plnre.litj{ of .dead-keylevers, an auxiliaryuniversal ban-arranged transversely of said.

deed-key levers and adefled-to, be operated 'ngon' thereby, en oporetmg levenparallel wlth said dead-key levers and adapted to act 'rod and a lehaving operative connection at one end dead key 1 wvit-hseidopereting lever and at thepther "Copies 0! this fmfintmej be elat llnqdfior ln' henge each, addressing the Gommluloner of 2mm.

' I ..wummmne- Y I o 85 tien witht he type-bars, tlle-maln-keylevers, l the letter-spaicmg mechenismand the rib-' .bon -,thro\ v device ineludin 

